Brenda Shanahan in the House of Commonshttp://openparliament.ca/politicians/brenda-shanahan/Statements by Brenda Shanahan in the House of Commons, from openparliament.ca.enTue, 12 Jun 2018 20:50:00 -0400Impact Assessment Acthttps://openparliament.ca/debates/2018/6/12/brenda-shanahan-1/<p data-HoCid="5483465" data-originallang="fr">Mr. Speaker, I listened with interest to my hon. colleague's speech.</p>
<p data-HoCid="5483466" data-originallang="fr">The environment and respect for the environment are very important to my constituents. In my riding, people care about protecting our river and our land and have worked very hard to strike a balance between that and developing the land and the fact that we have agriculture, manufacturing, and transportation. All of these things add to the quality of life of everyone in our region. We are very proud of that.</p>
<p data-HoCid="5483467" data-originallang="fr">It is clear that people are very worried about the environment. We know that greenhouse gases are having an impact, and we have seen just how detrimental to our environment this past decade's policies have been. We know that our country has done very little to mitigate the effects of pollution and climate change. That is why people voted for a government that has a policy to address all that.</p>
<p data-HoCid="5483468" data-originallang="fr">Here is my question for my colleague across the way. What would he have done about this? The fact is that my constituents are very happy with the steps our government has taken.</p>Tue, 12 Jun 2018 20:50:00 -0400https://openparliament.ca/debates/2018/6/12/brenda-shanahan-1/Circuit du paysanhttps://openparliament.ca/debates/2018/5/31/brenda-shanahan-1/<p data-HoCid="0" data-originallang="fr">Mr. Speaker, since this week is Tourism Week in Canada, I want to take this opportunity to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the Circuit du paysan.</p>
<p data-HoCid="0" data-originallang="fr">Boasting nearly 100 agrifood, cultural, and outdoor attractions, this marked route winds for almost 200 kilometres through the regional county municipalities of Jardins-de-Napierville, Roussillon, and Beauharnois-Salaberry. With stops at vineyards, cider mills, cheese factories, and farm stands, the Circuit du paysan is one of Quebec's most scenic culinary trails.</p>
<p data-HoCid="0" data-originallang="fr">Popular among cyclists and vacationers alike, the Circuit du paysan showcases our region and draws in many of our neighbours from the south. Incidentally, I recently worked with my colleague from <a data-HoCid="214031" href="/politicians/jean-claude-poissant/" title="Jean-Claude Poissant">La Prairie</a> to organize a regional round table on tourism for about 30 sector stakeholders to discuss their concerns and prospects.</p>
<p data-HoCid="0" data-originallang="fr">I welcome all Canadians to visit us this summer.</p>Thu, 31 May 2018 14:10:00 -0400https://openparliament.ca/debates/2018/5/31/brenda-shanahan-1/An Act to change the name of the electoral district of Châteauguay—Lacollehttps://openparliament.ca/debates/2018/5/11/brenda-shanahan-4/<p data-HoCid="5408797" data-originallang="fr">Mr. Speaker, I applaud my colleague from <a data-HoCid="214064" href="/politicians/brigitte-sansoucy/" title="Brigitte Sansoucy">Saint-Hyacinthe—Bagot</a>, soon to be known as Saint-Hyacinthe—Acton, on her speech. This is a beautiful riding name. We are all proud of our riding names, because they mean something and they are important to people. If the names were not important, ridings could be referred to as A, B, C, D, E, F, J, or one, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, all the way up to 338. Riding names mean something, and that is important.</p>
<p data-HoCid="5408798" data-originallang="fr">Riding names are so important that we did a bit of research. During previous Parliaments, members from this honourable House introduced 72 private member's bills to change their riding name. They did not all succeed, but they tried.</p>
<p data-HoCid="5408799" data-originallang="en">Apparently there was one that succeeded in the 38th Parliament, Bill <a data-HoCid="1421668" href="/bills/38-1/C-304/" title="An Act to change the name of the electoral district of Battle River">C-304</a>, which was put forward by a Conservative member to change the riding name West Vancouver—Sunshine Coast to what is now the longest name in our House, West Vancouver—Sunshine Coast—Sea to Sky Country. I am sure the citizens of that riding are very proud to have that name. The member at the time thought that was the most important thing for him to do with his time in the House, and that is indeed what he did.</p>
<p data-HoCid="5408800" data-originallang="en">That is really what it comes down to. I do not think we are quibbling any longer about the name of my riding. I think we are talking about how we use the time of the House. We are each here, all 338 of us, to represent our citizens, and it is the priority of our citizens that count. By the way, the citizens in my riding voted for a Liberal member of Parliament because they wanted a Liberal government to put forward the things that were most important to them.</p>
<p data-HoCid="5408801" data-originallang="fr">They elected a Liberal member of Parliament. I think it took 30 years. My constituents spent a long time with people who did nothing for their riding. Now, they have a Liberal member of Parliament who works for them and who addresses their needs. I am proud to be a member of the governing party that is doing important things for my constituents. This government is taking care of the important things, like putting more money in families' pockets with the Canada child benefit.</p>
<p data-HoCid="5408802" data-originallang="en">The Canada child benefit is putting more than $6 million a month in the pockets of our local families, which are spending it in our local economy. People on secure incomes have seen an increase. They know they have an ear in Ottawa for the concerns of most importance to them, such as social housing, an expanded employment insurance program, and parental care. They know this government cares about them.</p>
<p data-HoCid="5408803" data-originallang="fr">I do not think I need to take up any more of my colleagues' precious time here in this august chamber. I know and I think that I can count on the support of everyone here to change the name of my riding.</p>
<p data-HoCid="5408804" data-originallang="en">If not because hon. members may not necessarily agree with it, or how I did it or how it came to be; it is because the citizens of Châteauguay—Lacolle want to be called citizens of Châteauguay—Les Jardins-de-Napierville. </p>Fri, 11 May 2018 13:50:00 -0400https://openparliament.ca/debates/2018/5/11/brenda-shanahan-4/An Act to change the name of the electoral district of Châteauguay—Lacollehttps://openparliament.ca/debates/2018/5/11/brenda-shanahan-3/<p data-HoCid="5408772" data-originallang="fr">Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague for his question. While doing research for this bill, I too wondered where the names Napierville, Saint-Cyprien-de-Napierville, and Jardins-de-Napierville came from. Interestingly, the name Jardins-de-Napierville refers to the beautiful mosaic of people in the region, who are kind of like flowers in a garden.</p>
<p data-HoCid="5408773" data-originallang="fr">The name Napierville is derived from the name of an English soldier, Napier Christie Burton. The town was named Napierville in his honour. This was not a situation where residents were divided. It is important to remember what happened with the patriots in 1837 and 1838. Napierville was a gathering place for both francophones and anglophones, because one of the leaders of the patriots in Lower Canada was Wolfred Nelson.</p>
<p data-HoCid="5408774" data-originallang="fr">Napierville has a fascinating history that demonstrates how much the English, the Scots, the Irish, and the Canadians and Quebeckers of the time co-operated. They also worked with the Mohawk people to fend off the Americans in the Battle of Châteauguay and to establish a democratic process in our beautiful country.</p>Fri, 11 May 2018 13:35:00 -0400https://openparliament.ca/debates/2018/5/11/brenda-shanahan-3/An Act to change the name of the electoral district of Châteauguay—Lacollehttps://openparliament.ca/debates/2018/5/11/brenda-shanahan-2/<p data-HoCid="5408767" data-originallang="fr">Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague for her question. As I said in my answers during the first and second debates, this is a concern for my constituents.</p>
<p data-HoCid="5408768" data-originallang="fr">Members of the House have a variety of ways to raise the concerns and issues their constituents care about. In this case, I made this promise to my constituents and to those who supported me during and after the election campaign. As a backbencher, I asked myself whether I should follow through on my constituents' request, since I was here to represent them. This is a matter of identity and pride.</p>
<p data-HoCid="5408769" data-originallang="fr">Frankly, I find these remarks a bit rich coming from the NDP, seeing as it was my predecessor, an NDP MP, who failed to take action when he should have in the previous Parliament.</p>Fri, 11 May 2018 13:35:00 -0400https://openparliament.ca/debates/2018/5/11/brenda-shanahan-2/An Act to change the name of the electoral district of Châteauguay—Lacollehttps://openparliament.ca/debates/2018/5/11/brenda-shanahan-1/<p class="procedural" data-HoCid="5408748"> moved that Bill <a data-HoCid="9096762" href="/bills/42-1/C-377/" title="An Act to change the name of the electoral district of Châteauguay—Lacolle">C-377, An Act to change the name of the electoral district of Châteauguay—Lacolle</a>, be read the third time and passed.</p>
<p data-HoCid="5408749" data-originallang="fr">Mr. Speaker, I am very pleased to speak today to debate the importance of my bill, a private member's bill, Bill <a data-HoCid="9096762" href="/bills/42-1/C-377/" title="An Act to change the name of the electoral district of Châteauguay—Lacolle">C-377</a>, for my constituents in the riding called, for now, Châteauguay—Lacolle.</p>
<p data-HoCid="5408750" data-originallang="fr">This is an important step because every time I address my constituents, either when I am asked to speak on their behalf or when I knock on doors and introduce myself as the member for Châteauguay—Lacolle, I am asked why the name of the riding is still Châteauguay—Lacolle, when Lacolle is not even part of the riding. </p>
<p data-HoCid="5408751" data-originallang="fr">I have already spoken at length about the reasons why and how the mistake was made in our riding name. During the last electoral boundaries readjustment in 2013, those who were in charge of correcting the riding name simply failed to do so. I am here today to correct that mistake. I was made aware of it during my nomination process for the 2015 election.</p>
<p data-HoCid="5408752" data-originallang="fr">As a longtime resident of Châteauguay, I was pleased to see that our new riding included 14 other wonderful municipalities. However, I was dismayed to discover that the Lacolle in Châteauguay—Lacolle referred to the border crossing in our riding rather than the municipality of Lacolle, which is part of the neighbouring riding, Saint-Jean. How must the residents of Saint-Bernard-de-Lacolle, who are my constituents, have felt when they realized that the name of our federal riding did not refer to their community, but to the border crossing? </p>
<p data-HoCid="5408753" data-originallang="fr">When I visited the representatives of each of our municipalities to talk about the issues of concern to them, the riding name was obviously one of them. People suggested new, more appropriate names. I would like to point out that it was the late Jacques Délisle, who was the mayor of Napierville at the time, who was the first to propose replacing “Lacolle” with “Les Jardins-de-Napierville”. Everyone quickly agreed to his suggestion. The name made sense and was meaningful to people in our region. I have already stated in the House the many reasons why the riding name should be changed to “Châteauguay—Les Jardins-de-Napierville”. </p>
<p data-HoCid="5408754" data-originallang="fr">However, I would like to reiterate what I think are the two most important reasons behind this choice of name. First, the RCM of Jardins-de-Napierville includes nine of the 15 municipalities in our region. They are Sainte-Clotilde, Saint-Patrice-de-Sherrington, Napierville, Saint-Cyprien-de-Napierville, Saint-Jacques-le-Mineur, Saint-Édouard, Saint-Michel, Saint-Rémi and, of course, Saint-Bernard-de-Lacolle.</p>
<p data-HoCid="5408755" data-originallang="fr">The residents of the other six municipalities, which are Saint-Urbain-Premier, Sainte-Martine, Mercier, Saint-Isidore, Léry, and of course Châteauguay, identify with the Grand Châteauguay region. As a result, everyone will see themselves in the name “Châteauguay—Les Jardins-de-Napierville”.</p>
<p data-HoCid="5408756" data-originallang="en">Yes, we are proud that we enjoy the best of all worlds in our riding, both urban and rural. When I meet citizens at the door, the grocery store, or a town hall and they ask me when the name of the riding is going to be changed, I am so delighted to say that we are getting it done.</p>
<p data-HoCid="5408757" data-originallang="en">However, now it appears that we face opposition in this House to the name change my citizens so desperately want. Indeed, I was confident from the words expressed by my fellow members at the second reading stage and at the Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs that Bill <a data-HoCid="9096762" href="/bills/42-1/C-377/" title="An Act to change the name of the electoral district of Châteauguay—Lacolle">C-377</a> had the support of all parties in the House. Apparently, as shown by the dissenting voices of last week, that was not the case.</p>
<p data-HoCid="5408758" data-originallang="en">Now I dare hope, knowing how important it is to my constituents to see themselves in the name of of our great and beautiful riding, that every member of this House will vote with me, in one voice, to say yea to the name of “Châteauguay—Les Jardins-de-Napierville”.</p>Fri, 11 May 2018 13:30:00 -0400https://openparliament.ca/debates/2018/5/11/brenda-shanahan-1/An Act to change the name of the electoral district of Châteauguay—Lacollehttps://openparliament.ca/debates/2018/5/4/brenda-shanahan-2/<p class="procedural" data-HoCid="5386843"> moved that Bill <a data-HoCid="9096762" href="/bills/42-1/C-377/" title="An Act to change the name of the electoral district of Châteauguay—Lacolle">C-377, An Act to change the name of the electoral district of Châteauguay—Lacolle</a>, be concurred in at report stage.</p>Fri, 04 May 2018 13:00:00 -0400https://openparliament.ca/debates/2018/5/4/brenda-shanahan-2/International Developmenthttps://openparliament.ca/debates/2018/5/4/brenda-shanahan-1/<p data-HoCid="5386613" data-originallang="fr">Mr. Speaker, we live in a world where women living in poverty face outrageous inequalities from their birth to their death. Women do not have anywhere near the same advantages as men when it comes to access to education, employment, property, and responsibilities.</p>
<p data-HoCid="5386614" data-originallang="fr">Can the <a data-HoCid="214322" href="/politicians/marie-claude-bibeau/" title="Marie-Claude Bibeau">Minister of International Development and La Francophonie</a> tell the House how a feminist international assistance policy makes a difference to women in developing countries?</p>Fri, 04 May 2018 11:55:00 -0400https://openparliament.ca/debates/2018/5/4/brenda-shanahan-1/Thomas D'Arcy McGeehttps://openparliament.ca/debates/2018/4/30/brenda-shanahan-1/<p data-HoCid="5371011" data-originallang="en">Mr. Speaker, as a Canadian of Irish heritage, it is my honour to rise today to commemorate the tragic assassination of a great Irishman, a great Canadian, a member of Parliament and father of confederation, Thomas D'Arcy McGee, who was gunned down as he was leaving this House 150 years ago on April 7.</p>
<p data-HoCid="5371012" data-originallang="fr">Born in Ireland, he emigrated to America and gained prominence as a journalist and advocate for the rights and freedoms that we cherish today. Although in his youth he supported the independence of his birth country, which the Fenians fought for, he rejected their violent cause, stating:</p>
<p data-HoCid="5371013" data-originallang="en">“Leave the old troubles in the old country.”</p>
<p data-HoCid="5371014" data-originallang="fr">It was allegedly the Fenians who assassinated this great man who worked so hard with MacDonald and Cartier to found our Confederation. </p>
<p data-HoCid="5371015" data-originallang="en">Earlier this month, the St. Patrick's Society of Montreal celebrated this great man in true Irish style. </p>
<p data-HoCid="5371016" data-originallang="en">I ask all members of this House to join with me now to commemorate in one voice the Hon. Thomas D'Arcy McGee as the wisest, the bravest, and the best of mankind. </p>Mon, 30 Apr 2018 14:00:00 -0400https://openparliament.ca/debates/2018/4/30/brenda-shanahan-1/Supporting New Parents Acthttps://openparliament.ca/debates/2018/4/24/brenda-shanahan-1/<p data-HoCid="5355826" data-originallang="en">Mr. Speaker, I beg your indulgence to just give me some indication of the time. I am not accustomed to speaking ad hoc, but I feel compelled to rise today to speak against the private member's bill being proposed by the <a data-HoCid="232946" href="/politicians/andrew-scheer/" title="Andrew Scheer">Leader of the Opposition</a>, Bill <a data-HoCid="9630862" href="/bills/42-1/C-394/" title="An Act to amend the Income Tax Act (parenting tax credit)">C-394</a>.</p>
<p data-HoCid="5355827" data-originallang="en">I do so knowing that the hon. member is a member of the party of the late Jim Flaherty, so I am very disappointed that a basic principle of taxation has been thoroughly ignored in presenting this private member's bill, which is that there is a difference between a benefit that is offered through the federal government and a program that a citizen pays into.</p>
<p data-HoCid="5355828" data-originallang="en">A program such as the Canada pension plan or the employment insurance program is one that a person, not necessarily a taxpayer—we do not know yet—who qualifies for that program pays into, and the person is then entitled to derive certain monies from that program, depending on whether they meet the criteria.</p>
<p data-HoCid="5355829" data-originallang="en">That is very different from a social benefit, which is awarded based on other criteria. It could be universal or means-based.</p>
<p data-HoCid="5355830" data-originallang="en">Again I must reiterate how disappointed I am that this bill has been put forward to the House, especially in light of the terrific work that our government did in the very first few months of our mandate in bringing in not only a bona fide and increased universal Canada child benefit but one that was tax-free, that was needs-based for those who needed the money more, and that was automatically deposited to people's accounts. They did not have to apply for it. They did not have to worry about whether it would be taxed back when it came time to do their personal income taxes 12 or 14 months later.</p>
<p data-HoCid="5355831" data-originallang="en">It was worry free, and it has lifted, as we know, more than 300 children out of poverty. That is where the money needs to go: toward lifting those families that have the most need out of poverty. Again, that is my disappointment on the tax side.</p>
<p data-HoCid="5355832" data-originallang="en">As a woman, as a feminist, as a mother, as a daughter, I am someone who saw my own mother opening up that envelope in the kitchen. I think it was when the eighth child was born in our family that the family allowance originally came in, in the 1960s. That was money in her hands. She had worked briefly as a teacher prior to having my oldest brother. She had decided to stay home, of course, as many women did, to look after us. We came one after the other. When the twins came, she said, “That is just next year's baby come this year.” Next year's baby came anyway. They just kept coming.</p>
<p data-HoCid="5355833" data-originallang="en">We ended up being nine in the family. Having that money in her hands meant she could use it for the very important things that she wanted to spend the money on—not that my father was not doing his part; he definitely was. He was working and bringing home money, but it was so important for her to have that income and to feel that she could make decisions for the family.</p>
<p data-HoCid="5355834" data-originallang="en">Fast-forward 25 years to myself as a single mom. It was the early 1980s. It still was not quite the thing to do, but I had a very supportive family around me. I was able to benefit from a number of programs at that time that allowed me to not only have my child and to feel secure in looking after her on my own, but also to go back to school. In doing so, I earned my master's degree in business administration and learned about financial matters. By this time, as members can imagine, it was very important to me.</p>
<p data-HoCid="5355835" data-originallang="en">It was at that time that I realized I had so many opportunities. Again, because I lived in Montreal, Quebec, I was able to get an excellent education for a very low price, but that is not free. There is a cost to society.</p>
<p data-HoCid="5355836" data-originallang="en">There were taxpayers before me who had paid into the general pool so that education could be available to people like me. When I got a terrific job at a bank three years later and I was finally making the big bucks, I paid my fair share of taxes and I was happy to do so, because then I could feel that I was helping another young mother like me to get her chance in life. That is what our tax system is about, that when we are in need, money is available and public support is available to us, but when we have more money, we are able to help other families who are in need. </p>
<p data-HoCid="5355837" data-originallang="en">I just wanted to come to that very basic principle. I had enormous respect for the late Jim Flaherty because as minister of finance, he brought in so many terrific initiatives to help people do better in life. Again, I would ask the hon. member opposite to think a bit more about this proposition that he is bringing forward.</p>
<p data-HoCid="5355838" data-originallang="en">I want to get back to families. Yes, it is expensive, and yes, it is complicated, but it is what makes life so rewarding. When people talk about cost, it always kind of bothers me because it really depends on how we value our children. Having my daughter completely changed my life. Having my daughter made me into the person, I would like to say, that people see here today. I hope that I am doing her proud. She is an artist today. She lives and works in New York City with her husband and they too are paying their taxes. If there is one thing I taught my daughter, even as an artist she did her bookkeeping and her accounting, and when she sold her work, she paid her taxes. I would certainly encourage all young people to think about how important it is to be that contributing member of society so that when they need the money, it is there for them, but when it is time for them to give back, they are able to do so.</p>
<p data-HoCid="5355839" data-originallang="en">We do not have to make it complicated. I am happy to report that I did get married. When my daughter was six years old, I met a wonderful man. We had twin boys, and it was not long before they were into sports, hockey and this and that. That sports credit was around and chasing after receipts from volunteer organizations was a pain in the neck. The arts credit was too late for my daughter, but she took art anyway. We did not wait for a tax credit to put my daughter into art school. It was complicated, and life is already complicated enough. Then we had that bus transit pass thing, and people should try looking for receipts for the monthly bus pass at the bottom of their kids' knapsacks at the end of every month. They have to have that receipt because at the end of the year when they want to claim it, CRA is going to come looking for those receipts. Please, let us simplify the lives of today's families. That is what our government has done. We are putting money into the accounts of families on a daily basis.</p>
<p data-HoCid="5355840" data-originallang="fr">In my riding alone this represents $6 million a month. That is money that goes into our local economy. When I knock on doors in my riding, my constituents are very pleased to know that they are getting this money without having to apply for it or worrying that it will be taken out of their bank account.</p>Tue, 24 Apr 2018 18:45:00 -0400https://openparliament.ca/debates/2018/4/24/brenda-shanahan-1/Canada Business Corporations Acthttps://openparliament.ca/debates/2018/4/19/brenda-shanahan-1/<p data-HoCid="5349081" data-originallang="en">Mr. Speaker, I have not had the opportunity to follow this debate all the way through, but as a former banker, I am interested in understanding how promoting diversity on a corporate board such as a bank would help the bottom line? Is there any rationale for that?</p>Thu, 19 Apr 2018 15:20:00 -0400https://openparliament.ca/debates/2018/4/19/brenda-shanahan-1/Arie Van Windenhttps://openparliament.ca/debates/2018/3/21/brenda-shanahan-1/<p data-HoCid="5312652" data-originallang="fr">Mr. Speaker, the Châteauguay—Lacolle community recently lost one of its farming pioneers, Arie Van Winden.</p>
<p data-HoCid="5312653" data-originallang="fr">Mr. Van Winden left his native Holland and arrived in Saint-Patrice-de-Sherrington in 1954 for a better life and to provide for his loved ones. Through his experience with drainage and with help from his brothers, he converted swampland that no one wanted into one of the most beautiful farmlands in Quebec, fertile black soil.</p>
<p data-HoCid="5312654" data-originallang="fr">From there the Van Winden family grew lettuce, carrots, and onions and eventually laid the foundation for a company known today as VegPro International, the largest fresh vegetable producer in Canada.</p>
<p data-HoCid="5312655" data-originallang="fr">Mr. Van Winden was a trailblazer of the economy in our rural region, now called Jardins-de-Napierville, which has become the largest produce supplier in the province. </p>Wed, 21 Mar 2018 14:10:00 -0400https://openparliament.ca/debates/2018/3/21/brenda-shanahan-1/